From Car Boot to Christmas Ball: Siobhan Murphy’s Dazzling Harewood Takeover
By Community Correspondent
With just over 100 days to go until Christmas, renowned maximalist interior designer Siobhan Murphy is diving head-first into the festivities at Harewood.
She’s leading a team of 50+ volunteers to create over 5,000 handmade decorations using secondhand and upcycled materials.
This year’s theme, "A Glittering Invitation: Harewood’s Grand Christmas Ball", focuses on sustainability and creativity.
Highlights include 300 vintage books from St Gemma’s Hospice and more than 2,000 items rescued from car boot sales and charity shops.
By the October half-term installation, 10,000 decorations are expected to be handcrafted.
As Creative Director of Christmas at Harewood 2025, Siobhan and volunteers have already clocked over 500 hours, crafting intricate, opulent designs that mix rich textures, bold colours, and vintage charm. Siobhan describes the theme as a celebration of “beauty for beauty’s sake,” drawing inspiration from Regency elegance and the joyful abundance of the season.
So far:
- Over 100m of paper chains have been made
- 500 pre-loved tutus collected for decorations
- Many materials reused from previous years
- Volunteers contribute about 40 hours per week, both on-site and from home
One volunteer is handmaking paper flowers for the Dining Room and Servants Hall using vintage and crepe paper.
A single recent install required 600+ volunteer hours, with thousands more expected by completion.
In addition to the full-sized spectacle, Siobhan is collaborating with nine miniaturist artists to recreate tiny versions of the festive scenes.
Notable contributors include Michael Robbins, featured on Channel 4’s Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, and Arabella Duffy, a talented 13-year-old miniaturist. These tiny artworks will form a free children’s trail throughout Harewood House, adding a playful and detailed experience for families.
Other creative talents joining the festivities include Helena Garcia (GBBO 2019), who’ll be baking showstopping cakes, and Monica Escobar of Ita Lillywhite, crafting paper flower installations.
Zoë Hughes, Harewood’s Head of Public Programme, said:
“Siobhan’s colourful, maximalist vision is perfect for Harewood’s Christmas. We’re thrilled to welcome her as Creative Director for this magical season.”
To make the event more accessible, Harewood is offering EnChroma glasses for red-green colourblind visitors and quiet hours for those who are neurodivergent — helping everyone enjoy the magic of Christmas.
Want to get involved?
Upcoming Christmas volunteering workshops take place on 16 and 23 September. To help craft decorations, email: volunteer@harewood.org
🎄 Tickets are now on sale for A Glittering Invitation: Harewood’s Grand Christmas Ball, running from Saturday 8 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026.
To book, head to
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